“Spartacus: House of Ashur” continues its first season with Episode 5, titled “Goddess of Death,” which premieres Thursday, December 26, 2025, on Starz. The episode marks a pivotal moment for the series, featuring the public debut of Achillia, the franchise’s first female gladiator, as she fights for survival and the reputation of her ludus.
Following the show’s weekly release pattern, the new episode will be available on the Starz linear channel at 9 PM EST / 6 PM PST. It will then be accessible for on-demand streaming via the Starz app and affiliated platforms the following day. This fifth episode arrives at the midpoint of the ten-episode season, which began with a two-episode premiere on December 5.
How to Watch Episode 5
For viewers in the United States, “Goddess of Death” will first air on the Starz television channel on Thursday, December 26, at 9:00 PM Eastern Time. The show maintains a consistent weekly schedule, with new episodes premiering each Thursday night.
For streaming, the episode will be available on Friday, December 27, across Starz’s digital platforms. This includes the standalone Starz app and Starz channels available through services like Amazon Prime Video Channels, the Apple TV app, Roku, and Philo. Access requires an active Starz subscription, which typically costs $10.99 per month, though promotional offers for new subscribers are frequently available.
For international audiences, global release times will vary by region. Starz content is often distributed through partner networks and streaming services worldwide, so viewers outside the U.S. should check their local Starz partner or platform for specific air times.
What to Expect in “Goddess of Death”
The official description for Episode 5 from Starz is direct: “Ashur presents Achillia to the public, where she faces her first battle in the arena”. This simple logline sets the stage for one of the season’s most significant events.
In the preceding episodes, Ashur has fought for respect in Capua’s brutal political landscape. His bold strategy involves Achillia, a formidable woman he purchased and trained to become a gladiatrix—a first for the ludus and for the Spartacus franchise. Her training has been grueling, marked by doubt and struggle, as seen in Episode 4 where she faced multiple opponents in preparation. Ashur’s goal is to shock the Roman elite, gain a coveted spot in the prestigious Ludi Apollinares games, and ultimately win the favor of powerful figures like Marcus Crassus.
However, Ashur and Achillia face immense prejudice. The conservative society of Capua scorns the idea of a woman fighting in the arena, and many still see Ashur as an upstart ex-slave unworthy of noble company. A public humiliation in Episode 4, where a crowd pelted Ashur with food, underscored the steep climb he faces. Achillia’s debut is therefore not just a fight for survival; it is a high-stakes gamble for the entire House of Ashur’s future. A victory could legitimize Ashur’s ludus and begin to erase the stigma of his past, while a defeat would embolden his enemies and could lead to his ruin.
Key Storylines Converging
Beyond the arena, several other plots will intensify in Episode 5. The political intrigue deepens with the recent arrival of Julius Caesar, a character whose ambitions could either aid or destroy Ashur. Furthermore, a complex dynamic is developing between Ashur and Viridia, the daughter of his rival, Cossutia, which threatens to upend existing schemes.
The relationship between Ashur’s trainer, Korris, and the politically connected Opiter has also moved beyond secrecy following a kiss in Episode 4. Their alliance could provide Ashur with a valuable link to Senator Gabinius, but it also makes them a target for Cossutia, who has already attempted to have Korris killed.
Inside the ludus, tensions simmer. The arrogant gladiator Tarchon resents his father, Celadus, for supporting Achillia. Meanwhile, the emotional bonds and power struggles among the house slaves Hilara and Messia continue to add layers of drama to Ashur’s household.
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The Return of a Franchise
For context, “Spartacus: House of Ashur” is a direct sequel to the original Starz series that aired from 2010-2013. It operates on a compelling “what if” premise: what if the cunning Syrian schemer Ashur, originally played by Nick E. Tarabay, had not been killed on Mount Vesuvius? In this new timeline, Ashur betrayed Spartacus, was rewarded by Rome with ownership of the very gladiator school (ludus) where he was once enslaved, and now seeks power and respect in a world that despises him.
Series creator Steven S. DeKnight returns as showrunner. He has explained that the challenge was to make a formerly villainous character someone the audience could follow. “The answer is, introduce even worse people,” DeKnight told Deadline, referring to the treacherous Roman elite who now surround Ashur. Tarabay, reprising his role, sees his character as a survivor rather than purely evil. “Everything he did was justified because he had to survive,” the actor said.
The series also features a brief but meaningful return of a legacy character, Lucy Lawless, who appears as Lucretia in a spiritual capacity to set Ashur on his new path.
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